The water needed to produce common goods and beverages | Thirsty work | The Economist (green #7)

As I sit here drinking my lovely cup of organic Shui Xian Oolong tea I can feel like I’m also doing a little thing for the environment. At least, if compared to the impact I’d make for the same amount of coffee.

I saw an amazing chart in the February 28-March 6 edition of the Economist. It compared the amount of water required to produce certain beverages and household goods. They took into account the water required for the production as well as the brewing of the beverage: producing beans for 1 liter of coffee coffee takes an amazing 1,120 liters of water. Tea is only 10% of that, at 120 liters. Astonishing.